***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Sunrise Cove with a powerful, moving story about a young woman on a quest to find the truth about her father who learns the meaning of true love along the way.
Alone in the world, Tae Holmes and her mother April pretty much raised each other, but as Tae starts asking questions about the father she’s never met, April, for the first time in her life, goes silent. To make matters worse, Tae is dangerously close to broke and just manages to avoid financial meltdown when she lands a shiny new contract with an adventure company for athletes with disabilities and wounded warriors.
Her first big fundraiser event falls flat, but what starts out as a terrible, horrible, no-good night turns into something else entirely when Tae finds herself face-to-face with Riggs Copeland. She hasn’t seen the former Marine since their brief fling in high school, and while still intensely drawn to him, she likes her past burned and buried, thank you very much. Hence their friendship pact.
But when April oddly refuses to help Tae track down her father, it’s Riggs who unexpectedly comes to her aid. On a hunt to unlock the past, the two of them find themselves on a wild ride and learn a shocking truth, while also reluctantly bonding in a way neither had seen coming. Now Tae must decide whether she’s going to choose love … or walk away from her own happiness.
The Friendship Pact by Jill Shalvis is her second book in her popular Sunrise Cove series, set in Lake Tahoe, California, but this can easily be read as a stand-alone book. I enjoyed this emotional, second-chance romance.
Tae Holmes and her mother April have relied on each other for Tae’s entire life. April was only fifteen years old when she gave birth to Tae, and they practically raised each other. Tae is an event coordinator in Tahoe and lives right next door to her mother, April, she’s recently received a contract with an adventure company for athletes with disabilities, Adrenaline HQ, and she has high hopes this contract will help her and her company grow.
Riggs is the silent partner for Adrenaline HQ and has just returned from working overseas as a Marine. He remembers Tae from High School, where they had a brief fling, and never spoke again. When they meet again at the fundraiser that Tae has organized for Adrenaline HQ, sparks start to fly, but neither Riggs nor Tae want a relationship, and Riggs is only home for the summer until he starts his new job in Washington, D.C.
I was immersed in the story immediately and enjoyed following Tae, Riggs, and April throughout the book. I did enjoy the relationship between Tae and her mother, April. While not the perfect mother-daughter relationship, they did love each other and cared for each other very much.
The Friendship Pact was an emotional book about two broken people, who need each other as much as they don’t believe they need each other. Riggs came from a tough home life and then lived as a Marine for years, and Tae, grew up taking care of her mother more than her mother took care of her. Also, she grew up without a father. I loved that when Tae and Riggs came together, they found ways to validate and help heal each other as well as themselves.
I recommend The Friendship Pact to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
UK Cover:
About Jill Shalvis
Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her most recent book, Almost Just Friends, was just published last month and her next book, The Summer Deal, comes out in June.
MORE ABOUT JILL
Jill lives with her family in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters (Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is mostly coincidental). She does most of her writing on her deck surrounded by more animals than humans. Which is quite astonishing considering she’s a city girl who was plucked from the wilds of L.A. to the wilds of the Sierra’s. Most of her books come from a combination of hard work, cookies, and hot guy pics, and not necessarily in that order.
Jill often travels to reader weekends & conventions where she LOVES getting to meet and hang-out with readers. The only problem being she tends to get lost in her hotels. So if you ever see NYTimes Bestselling author Jill Shalvis roaming the halls, someone please return her immediately.
I have to say I prefer the US cover – mostly for the dog which sells the book on its own! I’ve recently returned to Jill Shalvis’ books after a few years break and have so enjoyed them. This sounds wonderful and of course I can’t resist a big clumsy dog!
I read the first book in the series earlier this year and it was my first by Shalvis. I really enjoyed it and will definitely pick this one up. I can’t tell from the characters what the connection is with the first book, but maybe it’s just the setting.
Wonderful review! I loved this book but I will always think of these as life fiction. Overall they feel pretty realistic. Since they are fiction there are small things like the foundation they are building which is taking off. But I love the idea of it helping veterans and disadvantaged youth.
I have to say I prefer the US cover – mostly for the dog which sells the book on its own! I’ve recently returned to Jill Shalvis’ books after a few years break and have so enjoyed them. This sounds wonderful and of course I can’t resist a big clumsy dog!
A dog on a cover is always good.
This sounds like it could be a really fun story. Thanks for the review!
Thank you, Jenni!
Sounds a lovely story. Like previous commenters I like the UK cover a lot, but then the US cover has the dog, and dogs always win!
I agree, the UK cover is cuter, but that dog makes the US cover a standout.
The UK cover is so cute. Glad to hear you enjoyed this!
Thank you, Diana!
I read the first book in the series earlier this year and it was my first by Shalvis. I really enjoyed it and will definitely pick this one up. I can’t tell from the characters what the connection is with the first book, but maybe it’s just the setting.
I read the first book as well, and there wasn’t a strong connection to the first book at all.
i love the uk cover, but the dog on the usa one really sells it! excellent review, wendy!
Thank you, Chelsea. I wish they had put a dog on the UK cover.
Very jealous! I love Jill Shalvis books
She’s so good.
You had me at the two needing each other as much as they don’t believe they do. This sounds so touching.
Thank you!
I can’t wait to pick this one up. Love her books.
I hope you enjoy it when you get to it!
I do like the US book cover, much more appealing than the UK one.
Thank you, Rosie! I do like the dog on the US cover.
Good review, Wendy. I like the U.S. cover best; the dog makes it the winner! Hope you continue to be safe.
Thank you, Linda. I love a book with a dog on the cover!
Wonderful review! I loved this book but I will always think of these as life fiction. Overall they feel pretty realistic. Since they are fiction there are small things like the foundation they are building which is taking off. But I love the idea of it helping veterans and disadvantaged youth.
Thank you, Anne
This does sound like a really good one! But then, it is Jill Shalvis. 🙂
Yes, she’s always so good.
This is going to be my next read. Glad to see you enjoyed it. Can’t decide if I like the UK or American cover more.
I know! I can’t decide either.
Fab review! I really like the sound of this one and that cover is adorable. xx
Thank you, Yvonne!
I love the title and the original cover you’ve shared. Sounds like a good second chance story yes!
Elza Reads
Thank you!
I think I would enjoy this one it looks great 💕
Thank you, Jenny!
I enjoy a second-chance romance and this one sounds great! Wonderful review Wendy!
Thank you, Jodie! I think you’d like this one.
I hadn’t heard of this one before but it sounds great! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Amanda
I’m so behind on Jill Shalvis’ books! She does a good job with relationships so I know I’ll enjoy the ones explored here.
I agree, Nick. Jill Shalvis does write excellent relationships.
Sounds great, glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you, Cindy!
Wonderful review Wendy! I’m so excited to read this too!🤗📚💜
Thank you, Susan!
ahhh your blog is so so adorable !!
Thank you, I’ll go visit your blog now.
I really like the UK cover. You’re filling my TBR this week!
Thank you, Rae!
This sounds like such a touching story. Excellent review, Wendy!
Thank you, Tessa!